Civil rights movement in America

The establishment of the American Constitution and the abolition of slavery started a new political thought process in the nation. The American Civil War laid the foundation for the development of a Constitution that considered all men equal. It was enshrined in the American Constitution that all men are created equal in the eyes of God. Thus, slavery of any kind is a violation and infringement of this natural law. However, laying down the law and making slavery illegal did not ensure equal rights to the thousands of African Americans now born on American soil. These men and women were children of native Africans who were brought to America to work as slaves. Even though they were virtually American citizens, yet they did not enjoy any rights similar to that of their white counterparts.  Thus, with the abolition of slavery, the misery of the African Americans did not end! They had to continue their struggle for equal rights and recognition as inalienable citizens of America. This struggle of the African American citizens is known as the American Civil Rights movement. This struggle would continue for decades and give rise to a modern political thought process that condemns discrimination. The Civil Rights movement acts as an inspiration to citizens of nations who are struggling to overcome prejudice and persecution based on race, color, creed, and religion. 

Some of the essential features of the American Civil Rights movement on which cheap custom writing services are offered have been discussed below. Last minute essay writing service companies help you write the best cheapest essay.

Agitation against legalized discrimination

The primary objectives of the supporters of the American Civil Rights movement were the abolition of prejudice and disfranchisement that were considered legal in the eyes of the law. In other words, there were laws in place within the American Constitution that allowed discrimination. For example, the Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that legalized discrimination. Under these laws, certain parts of the city were reserved only for the whites.

Similarly, the use of individual public facilities and amenities were reserved entirely for whites. Black Americans were not allowed to use these, and if anyone dared to defy the law, he or she could be arrested and tried in court. This continued discrimination often had violent results. It led to the African Americans being subjected to unnecessary brutality in the hands of the White Americans. White supremacy was so embedded in the American Constitution that it required numerous amendments before the African American citizens were granted equal rights like their White counterparts. This continued agitation against legalized discrimination formed the crux of the American Civil Rights movement.

The right to vote

Political theorists believed that not allowing African Americans to vote was a clear violation of human rights and disfranchisement. With the fifteenth Amendment of the American Constitution, the right to vote was granted to the Black Americans as well. However, this Amendment, too, was met with furious reprisals from the Whites. One of the examples of the agitation was the spurring of the Fayette County voting in 1959. The primary cause for this was that voters had to register themselves before they could cast a vote. However, the registration process was very complicated. It included literacy tests, payment of poll tax, and filing of necessary documents that proved that the voter was a resident of Fayette County. However, for many Black residents of this area, filing of such papers was complicated. Hence, the community decided to boycott the voting process even though more than sixteen thousand Black Americans lived in the area. This resulted in a significant backlash from the White citizens of Fayette County. The Blacks were faced with economic reprisals from the White community, and they were even blacklisted. This represented the issues that the Black Americans had to meet despite the Fifteenth Amendment. As the agitation continued and it became representative of the Black Freedom Movement. Finally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had to be passed to protect the rights of the voters and facilitate registration of voters.

World War II and the Civil Rights movement

World War II helped give impetus to the American Civil Rights movement. The then President of USA Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order on 25th June 1941, which opened all government and defense sector jobs to the African American citizens. In other words, Black Americans could now join the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Recruitment by the defense sector soon became symbolic of the American Civil Rights movement. The defense personnel started condemnation of discrimination based on race, color, and creed. But this had not permeated entirely into the American conscience. It was ironic that Black American men and women served heroically during the Second World War even though they faced discrimination and segregation back home. Though they were fighting for Civil Rights and the establishment of a society based on equality, yet again in America, they would be facing extreme racial discrimination and even racial slur. During World War II, the African American soldiers were fighting overseas against a dictatorial rule that sought to destroy human rights and establish the supremacy of a particular race over others. But back home, they would be facing similar discrimination in the hands of the White community. The Tuskegee Airmen were among the first to break the racial barrier and distinguish themselves as aviators par excellence. But their struggle to break the racial barrier was confusing and not without obstacles. Thus, the service rendered by the Black Americans in World War II also came to symbolize the struggles faced by the participants of the American Civil Rights movement.

Thus, the American Civil Rights movement is one that is etched in the memory of political and social thinkers as one that sought to remove all forms of discrimination. It laid the groundwork for the establishment of a society based on equality. It was a movement that quintessentially proved that all men are born equal, and discrimination and prejudice of any kind based on caste, race, color, religion, creed, and gender should be denounced.